Luminous sign



Jan. 3, 1956 R. H. VAN DEN BERG 2,729,008

LUMINOUS SIGN I Filed April 16, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I NTOR. RmHARb H. VAN E. BERG ZE AMW ATTORNEY R. H. VAN DEN BERG 2,729,008

LUMINOUS SIGN Jan. 3, 1956 Filed April 16, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. RmHARD l'LVAN DEN BERG A-r-roawav United States Patent LUMINOUS SIGN Richard H. Van Den Berg, Milwaukee, Wis., assignor to Display Corporation, Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application April 16, 1953, Serial No. 349,205

10 Claims. (Cl. 40130) This invention relates to luminous signs of the kind particularly adapted to be mounted upon window panes.

Heretofore the display panel of such signs has been mounted on the outside of the window pane and the illuminating part thereof mounted on the inside of such pane so that such panel and part collectively formed the luminous sign. This did not provide for any display on the inside of such window pane. Furthermore, the suction fasteners used to secure such signs to the panes were plainly visible and adversely affected the overall appearance.

It is an object of this invention therefore to provide a luminous sign of such character which will have a display on both sides of the window pane and have mounting means not detracting from the appearance of the sign.

Another object of this invention is to provide a sign of this type which may be inexpensively made, easily mounted and readily connected.

These objects are obtained by using matched or counterpart display panels having the desired outline of the sign mounted in superimposed position on opposite sides of a window pane by flexible frames extending entirely around the periphery of each panel and cemented to such pane. One frame supports a spider which carries the sockets and lamps for illuminating both panels. The panels are made of mouldable plastic material, such as Plexiglas, and have peripheral flanges carried in grooves in such frames. Such frames combine and blend with the panels to create the desired aesthetic effect and also function mechanically to hold the sign in place. Thus the use of suction cups or other like mounting devices not forming a part of the desired visual picture is eliminated. The inside of each panel may be painted or coated partly with opaque material and partly with translucent material. The spider and lamps are thus concealed from observation and the featured design illuminated. Such a sign will be visibly effective both from the inside and outside of the window pane.

The novel features, which are considered characteristic of the invention, are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood from the following description of a specific embodiment when read in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a perspective view of a luminous sign embodying the present invention taken from the outside of the window pane on which such sign is mounted;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the inside of the inside panel of such sign taken from the line 22 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 3 is a side view of such sign illustrating the manner of mounting each display panel on opposite sides of the window pane;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view taken on the line 44 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view in side elevation of the ICC , ballast and wiring sheath for supply of electrical power to such sign, such view being taken from the inside of the window pane.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the luminous sign, depicted as an exemplification of the present invention, has an arbitrarily selected configuration. The configuration shown in the drawings may be varied and other designs used without change in the essence of this invention.

The luminous sign is mounted upon a window pane 10 held in a conventional casing 12. The sign consists of two display panels which match or are counterparts. In this example a display panel 14 is mounted on the outside of the window pane and a counterpart display panel '16 is mounted on the inside of the window pane. Such display panels may be made from acrylic resin plastic, such as is known in the trade as Plexiglas, or other thermoplastic materials which transmit colors of the visible spectrum. Each display panel has a peripheral flange 17 on which is fitted a flexible frame 18 to mount each panel to the pane 10. The surface of each panel may be raised as indicated generally at 15 for the purpose of providing third dimensional effects. The flexible frames 18 extend entirely around the periphery of each panel and conform to the desired peripheral outline of the panel. Such frames may be made from extruded thermoplastic vinyl resins or other plastic materials which will give suflicient flexibility to form the frame to the outline of the panel. As shown in Fig. 4, the frames have grooves 20 into which the flanges 17 fit. The outer wall or lip 21. of such groove, after the frames have been mounted on the pane 10, may be flexed outwardly to remove the panel. It is also advantageous to provide the frame with a slightly concave face 22 (not visible when assembled to the pane) which is cemented to the window pane 10. The frames may also have an inner recess 23 which provides a seat for the feet of the hereinafter described spider. The frame 18 is first bent around the panel and its meeting ends spliced by cement as indicated at 25 (Fig. 2). Then such'panel is secured to'the pane 10 by applying a vinyl base cement to the face 22 and pressing the frame against the window pane 10 till the cement sets.

The frame for the inside panel 16 supports a spider for holding the sockets for lamps providing the source of illumination. The shape of this spider will vary depending upon the configuration of the sign. in this example the spider has one long leg 24 which extends into the lateral projection of the panel 18 and two shorter bracing legs 26 and 28 which extend generally radially from the center part of the leg 24 to make such long leg more rigid. Each of the legs terminate in feet 29 which seat in the recess 23 and are held in place by screws 30 penetrating into the frame. The legs are preferably positioned on edge (except where bent to accommodate the lamps) to obtain minimum interference with the distribution of light within the panels. The long leg 24 has sockets 32 for a relatively long fluorescent lamp 34 and a conventional type of socket, indicated diagrammatically at 40, which supports and electrically connects circular type fluorescent lamps 36 and 38. All sockets are connected by wires 42 (which may be sheathed in heat resistant material) passing out through a small opening 44 in the frame 18 of the panel 16 and thence through a protective metal shell 46 to a ballast and starter indicated diagrammatically at 48 (see Fig. 5).

The inside of the panels 14 and 16 are coated or painted with opaque and translucent materials to obtain the desired visual appearance and still hide from sight of the spider, sockets, lamps, and wiring. The frames 18 may be colored to blend with the colors used in the adjacent part of the panels and thus such frames,

Patented Jan. 3, 1956 p 3 which provide the mechanical support for the panels, form part of the visual design.

The installation of such luminous sign is easy and may be made without any special skill or tools. The inside panel 16 is cemented in place and proper electrical connection made. Then the outside panel 14 is placed in juxtaposition to the .inside panel and cemented in place to complete the sign. It is possible to replace the lamps without breaking the cemented seal between the frames 18 and the window pane 111. As previously pointed out, the lip adjacent the groove is sufficiently flexible to be sprung back enough to release the flange 17 and permit removal of the panel 16. It is then a simple matter to replace the lamps in the conventional way. The panel 16 is replaced by again flexing back such lip and seating the flange 17 in the groove 211.

Although .only one embodiment of the invention is shown and described herein, it will be understood that this application is intended to cover such changes or modifications as come within the spirit .or the invention or scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. The combination in a luminous sign, of a Window pane, display panels secured in registry with each other to opposite sides of said pane to form two chambers, and illuminating means in one of said chambers.

2. The combination in a luminous sign, of a Window pane, display panels located in registry with each other on opposite sides of said pane, and flexible frames extending around the peripheries of said panels and cemented-to said pane.

3. The combination in a luminous sign, of a window pane, display panels located in registry with each other on opposite sidesof said pane, flexible frames extending around the peripheries of said panels and cemented to said pane, and illuminating means carried by one of said frames within one of said panels.

4. A luminous sign mounted on a transparent member comprising counterpart display panels having an outline of arbitrary design, said panels being arranged in superimposed position on opposite sides of said transparent member, supporting .frames extending around and holding the periphery of each panel and cemented to said member, said frames blending with said panels to form said arbitrary design whereby said frames function both mechanically and aesthetically, and a source of 'llurnination mounted in one of said panels.

5. A luminous sign as claimed in claim 4 in which a spider is secured to and positioned within one of said frames to provide a mounting for said source of illumi- 113111011.

6. A luminous sign as claimed in claim 5 in which said panels made of transparent material are coated with translucent and opaque materials to render said spider invisible from the outside of both said panels and create a visible design.

7. A luminous sign as claimed in claim 4 in which said frames are made of extruded plastic and have sides cemented to said member and grooves with flexible lips adapted to receive and hold the peripheries of said panels.

8. A luminous sign as claimed in claim 7 in which said panels are moulded of Plexiglas and have peripheral flanges fitted with said grooves.

9. A luminous sign comprising a transparent window pane, identical hollow display panels bearing advertising insignia and located on opposite sides of said pane in registry with each other and secured thereto along their edges to form chambers on opposite sides of said pane, and illuminating means in one of said chambers.

10. A luminous sign comprising a transparent win dow pane, identical hollow translucent display panels located on opposite sides of said pane and scaled thereto along registering lines continuously along their edges to formchamberson opposite sides of said pane, and illuminating means in one of said chambers.

Reierences Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 268,849 Atterbury -1 Dec. 12, 1882 1,465,950 Schiller Aug. 28, 1923 1,556,648 Symms Oct. 13, 1925 1,810,525 Martin June 16, 1931 2,025,952 Levet Dec. 31, 1935 2,114,550 Vandermeer Apr. 19, 1938 2,143,731 Gallas Jan. 10, 1939 2,390,663 Pollard Dec. '11, 1945 

